Systems, apparatuses and methods for radio frequency-based attachment sensing

ABSTRACT

Some embodiments of the present disclosure discuss an apparatus comprising a transceiver configured to generate and/or receive radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic signals, one or more antennae configured to radiate the generated RF electromagnetic signals toward a surface and to output signals corresponding to received reflections of the RF electromagnetic signals, and a processing circuitry configured to process the received reflections and/or the output signals so as to determine change in position of the apparatus with respect to the surface. The apparatus may be incorporated into a wearable garment and/or an adhesive patch, and it may be attached to an outer surface of a human or an animal body.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/994,052, filed Jan. 12, 2016, entitled “System, Apparatuses andMethods for Radio Frequency-Based Attachment Sensing”, which claimsbenefit of and priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.62/102,551, entitled, “Systems, Apparatuses and Methods for RadioFrequency-based Attachment Sensing,” filed Jan. 12, 2015, the disclosureof which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Radio-frequency (RF) electromagnetic radiation has been used fordiagnosis and imaging of body tissues, examples of which may be found inPCT Patent Publication No. WO2011/067623, US Patent Publication Nos.2009/0299175 and 2009/0240133, and U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,926,868, 5,766,208and 6,061,589. Each of those disclosures is herein incorporated byreference in its entirety.

SUMMARY OF SOME OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of antenna implementations discuss an apparatus comprising atransceiver configured to generate and/or receive radio frequency (RF)electromagnetic signals; one or more antennae configured to radiate thegenerated RF electromagnetic signals toward a surface and to outputsignals corresponding to received reflections of the RF electromagneticsignals; and a processing circuitry configured to process the receivedreflections and/or the output signals so as to determine change inposition of the apparatus with respect to the surface. The apparatus maybe incorporated into a wearable garment and/or an adhesive patch, and/orattached to an outer surface of a human body or an animal body. In someembodiments, the received RF electromagnetic signals may be reflectedfrom the outer surface of a human or an animal body.

In some instances, the RF electromagnetic signals range in frequencyfrom about 300 MHz to about 3 GHz. In some instances, the signals mayrange in frequency from about 300 MHz to about 300 GHz. In someinstances, the received RF electromagnetic signals may be reflected fromthe surface.

In some embodiments, the one or more antennae may comprise a monostaticantenna element, a bistatic antenna element, and/or a polystatic antennaelement. Further, the one or more antennae may comprise a flexible planeconfigured to conform to the surface, wherein the flexible planecomprises a printed circuit board.

In some embodiments, the apparatus further comprises an electrodeconfigured to measure electrocardiographic signals of the human body orthe animal body so as to determine attachment level of the apparatus tothe human body or the animal body. It may also comprise a wirelesscommunication unit or module configured to wirelessly communicate withan external module. In some instances, it may further contain an alarmunit configured to provide a warning when the determination of thechange in position of the apparatus with respect to the surfaceindicates attachment of the apparatus to the surface is below apredetermined attachment level threshold.

In some embodiments, the apparatus is configured to detect surfacemovements that are indicative of physiological effects, examples ofwhich include heartbeat, muscle movement, and respiration. In someinstances, the apparatus may be connected to a device for measuringphysiological parameters, and may further comprise a switch unitconfigured to activate or deactivate the device based on thedetermination of the change in position of the apparatus with respect tothe surface. In such implementations, the determination of the change inposition of the apparatus with respect to the surface may indicateattachment of the apparatus to the surface is below a predeterminedattachment level threshold. In some embodiments, the processing of thegenerated and/or the received signals comprises analyzing amplitudesand/or phases of the generated and/or the received signals. For example,the analysis of the amplitudes and/or the phases of the generated and/orthe received signals comprises comparing changes in amplitudes and/orphases between the generated and the received signals to respectivechanges in amplitudes and/or phases recorded when the apparatus is atrest with respect to the surface. In some embodiments, such analysis mayinclude determining signal delays of the generated and/or the receivedsignals.

In some embodiments, a method for sensing change in position of anapparatus with respect to a surface to which the apparatus is secured tois disclosed. Such a method may comprise the step of generating andreceiving, by a transceiver, radio frequency (RF) electromagneticsignals. It may also include radiating, by one or more antennae, thegenerated RF electromagnetic signals into the surface the apparatus issecured to; and outputting signals by the one or more antennae and inresponse to received reflected RF electromagnetic signals. In addition,it may comprise processing the received and/or the output signals so asto determine change in position of the apparatus with respect to thesurface.

In some embodiments, a method for sensing attachment level of anapparatus with respect to a body surface to which the apparatus isattached to is disclosed. The method comprises generating and receiving,by a transceiver, radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic signals; andradiating, by one or more antennae, RF electromagnetic signals generatedby a transceiver onto the body surface the apparatus is attached to. Insome instances, the method includes outputting signals by the one ormore antennae in response to RF electromagnetic signals reflected by thebody surface; and analyzing the output signals with respect to a nominalsignal to determine a shift in the attachment of the apparatus to thebody surface, wherein the nominal signal is detected when the apparatusis securely attached to the body surface. For example, analyzing theoutput signals with respect to the nominal signal comprises calculatingsum of absolute values of differences of amplitudes of the reflectedsignal from amplitudes of the nominal signal per frequency.

It should be appreciated that all combinations of the foregoing conceptsand additional concepts discussed in greater detail below (provided suchconcepts are not mutually inconsistent) are contemplated as being partof the inventive subject matter disclosed herein. In particular, allcombinations of claimed subject matter appearing at the end of thisdisclosure are contemplated as being part of the inventive subjectmatter disclosed herein. It should also be appreciated that terminologyexplicitly employed herein that also may appear in any disclosureincorporated by reference should be accorded a meaning most consistentwith the particular concepts disclosed herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The skilled artisan will understand that the drawings primarily are forillustrative purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of theinventive subject matter described herein. The drawings are notnecessarily to scale; in some instances, various aspects of theinventive subject matter disclosed herein may be shown exaggerated orenlarged in the drawings to facilitate an understanding of differentfeatures. In the drawings, like reference characters generally refer tolike features (e.g., functionally similar and/or structurally similarelements).

FIG. 1 shows a picture of an example bistatic antenna for sensingattachment to a surface.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example normalized transmission loss (S21parameter) comparison between embodiments when the antenna is attachedto a surface, and when it is not.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic block diagram comprising functional componentsof an apparatus for processing signals to determine attachment level ofthe apparatus to a surface.

FIG. 4 is an example flow diagram illustrating the use of the disclosedapparatus for sensing changes in attachment of the apparatus to asurface of a human or animal body, according to an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME OF THE EMBODIMENTS

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, systems and apparatusesfor radio frequency (RF)-based surface attachment sensing are presented.For example, in some embodiments, a sensing apparatus for sensing changein position of the apparatus with respect to a surface comprises one ormore antennae, a transceiver, and a processing circuitry. In someembodiments, the sensing apparatus may comprise one or more antennae anda transceiver, and the apparatus may be operationally coupled to theprocessing circuitry. In some instances, the apparatus may be in directcontact with the surface (with or without adhesives, for example), andsensing and/or measuring the shift of the apparatus with respect to thesurface may indicate the attachment level of the apparatus to thesurface. In some instances, the apparatus may not be in direct contactto the surface but secured or stably connected to it. For example, theapparatus, while not directly contacting the surface, may beincorporated into a garment or patch that is secured to the surface. Insome embodiments, the surface may be an outer surface of a human or ananimal body, such as the skin.

In some embodiments, the transceiver can generate driving signals fortransmission by the one or more antenna, and may further filter andinterpret reflected and propagated signals that are received by theantennae. The transceiver may generate the signals at multiple differentfrequencies, and when signals are received by the antennae, the receivedsignals may be digitized by the transceiver. In some instances, some orall of the signals may be reflected by the surface and/or body tissuesalong the path of the signals. For example, RF signals generated by atransceiver and radiated by an antenna of an apparatus attached to thesurface of a human or animal body may be reflected by the skin,scattered by body tissues along the propagation path, and/or emerge onsubstantially opposite side of the body as propagated waves. In someinstances, the apparatus may comprise additional antennae on theopposite side of the body to receive the propagated waves.

In some embodiments, the antenna comprises a single antenna element(monostatic antenna), a bistatic antennae (two antenna elements), and/orpolystatic or multistatic antennae (more than two antennae elements). Ina monostatic mode, the antenna may switch between transmitting andreceiving modes, and radiate RF signals and receive reflected waves backfrom the surface the apparatus is attached to, and/or other tissues onthe path of the radiated wave. In bistatic and polystatic modes, antennaelements may comprise a plurality of antenna elements, each tasked withtransmitting or receiving RF signals. For example, a bistatic antennamay have one antenna element radiating RF signals and another elementreceiving waves that are reflected as well as waves radiated by otherantenna elements. In some embodiments, the RF signals waveform can becontinuous or based on step frequency, and may be radiated in thefrequency range of from about 200 MHz to about 300 GHz. The RF signalsmay also be radiated in the frequency range from about 250 MHz to about100 GHz, from about 300 MHz to about 30 GHz, from about 300 MHz to about3 GHz, from about 500 MHz to about 1 GHz, about 300 MHz, about 3 GHz,and/or the like. In yet some instances, higher and lower frequenciesoutside these ranges may be used. In some of these embodiments, thevarious frequency elements may be used to improve the performance of theapparatus. For example, multiple frequencies (e.g., from any of theabove-noted frequency ranges) may be used to improve detection.Modulation of the frequencies may allow reduction or elimination ofinterferences. The RF signals may also be configured so as to achieve arange (e.g., depth) resolution that allows effective filtering ofreflections from different depths of the surface of the body.

Various types of antennas may be used in implementing embodiments of thepresent disclosure, including wire antennas (e.g., monopole, dipole,loop antennas, etc.), microstrip antennas (e.g., patch, planar),aperture antennas (e.g., slot, cavity-backed, planar), traveling waveantennas (e.g., helical), printed antennas and/or the like. For example,planar antenna backed by an in-phase reflective structure based on anelectromagnetic band gap (EBG) structure between an antenna ground planeand the front surface may be used. Such structures are especiallyadvantageous for providing flat, and possibly flexible antenna, that mayconform to a body surface. In some instances, the antennae may comprisea flexible plane attached to said surface. For example, the antenna maybe printed on a flexible printed circuit board (PCB). In some instances,planar antenna comprising a conductive element (e.g., spiral) on thefront surface of the antenna may be used. Conductive elements in suchantennae may be able to receive electrocardiogram (ECG) signals from thebody surface, obviating the need for separate ECG electrodes. In someinstances, the conductive elements may be included in printed circuitboards that the antennae comprise on the front surface of the antennae.

In some embodiments, the apparatus may comprise a processing circuitrythat includes a processor capable of processing signals received by theone or more antennae and/or the transceiver to determine attachmentlevel of the apparatus to the surface the signals are reflected from orpropagated through. In some embodiments, the apparatus may not comprisethe processing circuitry, but instead may be operationally coupled tothe circuitry. In some instances, the processor accomplishes this taskby analyzing the amplitudes and/or phases of these signals. For example,the sensing apparatus may process the reflected signals to determine thechange in the amplitude and/or phase of the reflected/propagated signalswith respect to the signals that were radiated into the surface by theantennae. The processor may then compare these changes to benchmarkchanges to determine the attachment level of the apparatus to thesurface. Examples of benchmark changes are changes in amplitudes and/orphases that have been previously recorded under known conditions. Forexample, a measurement for amplitude and/or phase changes may be madewhen the attachment level of the apparatus to the surface is known(e.g., the apparatus is not moving with respect to the surface, theapparatus is directly attached to the surface, the apparatus is inproximity to the surface within a known separation distance, theapparatus is incorporated into a wearable garment or adhesive patch,etc.). Such measurements may then be used as benchmarks for comparisonwith amplitude/phase changes that the processer determines by analyzingthe reflected and/or propagated signals. In some embodiments, thesensing apparatus may process the reflected signals to determine signaldelays of the generated and/or the reflected signals. For example, thesignal delays may be obtained from an analysis of the phases of thesignals.

In some embodiments, the apparatus may process the reflected signals todetermine the change in the amplitude and/or phase of thereflected/propagated signals with respect to a nominal signal when theattachment level of the sensing apparatus to the surface is known (e.g.,the nominal signal corresponds to when the apparatus is not moving withrespect to the surface, the apparatus is directly attached to thesurface, the apparatus is in proximity to the surface within a knownseparation distance, the apparatus is incorporated into a wearablegarment or adhesive patch, etc.). The changes may then be used asmeasures of attachment levels. For example, a measure of attachment canbe determined, in some embodiments, according to the followingprocedure. First, a nominal signal (including the amplitude thereof) isdetected upon the apparatus being attached to a surface of a body (e.g.,skin). RF signals are then transmitted from antenna and, reflectionstherefrom are received by the antenna (either the same antenna oranother antenna). The reflected signals are then analyzed to determinethe amplitudes of reflected signals with respect to the amplitudes ofthe nominal signal, for example, by calculating the sum of the absolutevalue of the difference of the reflected signal amplitude per frequencyfrom a nominal amplitude set. The difference may represent the state ofattachment.

In some embodiments, one may wish to check that the sensing apparatushas not been removed from the intended subject (usually a living beingsuch as a human or animal), either intentionally or accidentally, so asto protect the integrity of the measurement results. For example, theapparatus may be attached to a non-living stationary surface andindicate undisturbed attachment, leading to misleading interpretations.In such situations, one may utilize an accelerometer to better determineif the subject the apparatus is intended to be attached to is in fact aliving being or not, or at least capable of movement. For example, anaccelerometer can be used to better distinguish between attachment to astationary surface and attachment to living being or tissue (that is, abody capable of movement). In some embodiments, this can be performed bycalculating the amount of accelerometer signal energy in low frequenciescompared to the energy of the entire spectrum.

In some embodiments, the processing circuitry comprises a combination ofdedicated hardware circuits and programmable components. Programmableprocessors, such as a general-purpose microprocessor, a digital signalprocessor, etc., which are programmed in software may be used to carryout the tasks described herein. In some implementations, the processingcircuitry may comprise dedicated or programmable digital logic unitssuch as an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or afield-programmable gate array (FPGA). In some instances, the tasks maybe carried out by a single processor, or by a combination of one or moreprocessors.

In some embodiments, the processing unit may communicate with anexternal server or device via a communication unit or module that may ormay not be a component of the sensing apparatus. For example, any of themeasurements obtained and/or processed by the processing unit may betransmitted to an external device by the communication unit. Inaddition, the communication unit may be configured to receive any data,instructions, etc., from an external device.

The apparatus as described herein may be utilized for a variety ofpurposes, an example of which is to determine if devices used formeasuring physiological parameters on a human or animal skin havemaintained their contact with the skin. For example, devices or sensorssuch as an ECG sensor, photoplethysmogram (PPG) sensor, etc., may besecurely attached to the sensing apparatus described herein, and theapparatus/sensor may be used to check on the attachment level of theapparatus itself (and hence the ECG, PPG devices) to the skin as thedevices are taking measurements. In some embodiments, the apparatus maycomprise an electrode or a conductive element that is configured toreceive ECG, PPG, etc., signals from the surface the apparatus isattached to. In such embodiments, the apparatus itself may also serve asa physiological sensor (e.g., ECG and/or PPG devices). In suchembodiments, the apparatus may use the measurements of a body as proxymeasures of attachment levels of the apparatus to the surface of thebody. For example, the processor of the processing unit contained by oroperationally coupled to the apparatus may process the measured signalsto compare those to benchmark or expected activities of the body.Deviations from the benchmark or expected activities may indicate thatthe attachment level of the apparatus is different from the attachmentlevel when the benchmark or expected activities were observed. Forexample, a decreased intensity in the measured ECG or PPG activities maybe interpreted as: the apparatus not being securely attached to thesurface, the apparatus not being directly attached to the surface, theapparatus moving with respect to the surface, etc. In some embodiments,the apparatus may detect surface movements that are indicative ofphysiological effects, and these measurements may be used for, forexample, diagnostic values. For example, the apparatus may detect minutemovements of the surface the apparatus or the antennae are attached to(e.g., blood vessel, muscle, skin movements such as contractions andrelaxations), and from the measurements, one may make diagnosticdeterminations about heartbeat, muscle movement, respiration, etc.Examples of muscle movements include movements of muscles ofmastication, movements of muscles of swallowing, and/or the like.

In some embodiments, the devices may not necessarily be configured toreceive signals from the body or tissue. For example, the devices maycomprise electrodes that provide energy or current to the body such as,but not limited to, defibrillators that provide electrical current intothe body. The electrodes may be configured to be attached to the outersurface of a human or an animal body, and the electrode may provideelectrical current to the body.

In using the apparatus to measure attachment levels or even ECG/PPGactivities, in some embodiments, it may be of interest to determine thatthe body of the surface to which the apparatus is attached to is aliving body/tissue. For example, the attachment level measurements fromthe apparatus may indicate that the apparatus is firmly attached to thesurface. However, the surface may not in fact be the surface of the bodyfor which the attachment measurements are desired. For example, thesurface may be some still surface that in fact may not be, for example,the skin of the body whose physiological parameters are being measuredthe apparatus or a sensor attached thereto (e.g., the sensor falls off askin and attaches to a still surface, and upon measurement, this maylead to the inaccurate conclusion that the sensor is attached well tothe skin). In some embodiments, the apparatus may comprise anaccelerometer that detects movements of the apparatus, and by extension,devices and bodies securely attached to the apparatus. In someembodiments, the apparatus may comprise, or be incorporated into, othersensors/detectors such as but not limited to lie detectors,photoplethysmogram (PPG) sensors, ECG sensors, etc. In addition, theapparatus may be utilized to verify the efficacy of other surfaceattachment systems. For example, the apparatus can be incorporated intothe surface attachment system of an insulin pump attachment so as tomonitor and verify the effectiveness of the attachment system to thebody to which the insulin pump is attached. Similarly, the apparatus canbe incorporated into other attachment systems used to attach theaforementioned sensors (PPG sensors, ECG sensors, accelerometers,defibrillators, etc.) to a body. Further, the disclosed apparatus may beused with seatbelts where the apparatus may be used to verify and/ormonitor whether seatbelts are properly in contact with users of theseatbelts. In some instances, this may provide additional information onthe state of the body the apparatus is attached to (e.g., if theaccelerometer indicates no movement on the part of the body for anextended period of time, then this may be an indication that theattachment may not have been to a living body or tissue).

In some embodiments, the apparatus disclosed herein may also be used todetermine the locations of subcutaneous devices, examples of whichinclude implants, subcutaneous devices, guiding sensors (e.g., guidancesensors used for subcutaneous needles, etc.). In some embodiments, thedisclosed RF-based surface attachment sensing apparatus may direct RFsignals towards locations of subcutaneous devices in a body, and basedon an analysis of the reflection signals or patterns may determine thelocations and/or change in locations of the devices. For example,changes in the amplitude phases, and/or signal delays of the reflectedsignals may be compared to benchmark values for indications on thelocations and/or shifts in locations of the subcutaneous devices. Insome embodiments, the verification or monitoring of the subcutaneousdevices may be performed in real time, providing valuable feedback to auser of the disclosed apparatus (e.g., surgeon using a subcutaneousneedle may use the disclosed apparatus to track the progress of theneedle inside a patient's body).

In some embodiments, the apparatus or a sensor associated (e.g.,securely connected) with the apparatus may be performing a physiologicalmeasurement of a body, and the apparatus may indicate that theattachment level of the apparatus/sensor is different from theappropriate level of attachment for performing the measurement. Forexample, the apparatus may comprise an alarm component that provides awarning when the attachment is below a predetermined attachment levelthreshold. The warning may be visual (e.g., lights, textual displays,etc.), auditory (e.g., a warning via a speaker contained in theapparatus), tactile, and/or the like. In some instances, the apparatusmay provide a value indicating the attachment level. For example, fromanalyzing the reflected and/or the propagated signals and/ormeasurements of ECG activities, the sensor may determine and assign avalue to the attachment level (e.g., a 10% reduction in the intensity ofECG activities translates to an 85% attachment level based on apre-determined calibration scheme).

Upon detecting that the attachment level is different from the leveldetermined appropriate for the physiological measurement, in someembodiments, the apparatus may initiate a scheduling mechanism for themeasurement. In some embodiments, the apparatus may comprise a switchthat controls modes of operation of the sensor and/or devices connectedto the apparatus. Based on the determination of attachment levels, theapparatus may activate or deactivate measurements being carried out (bythe apparatus, additional sensors, etc.). In some embodiments, inaddition to or instead of the ability to activate or deactivatemeasurements, the apparatus may have the capacity to alter theperformance of the measurements according to the measured levels ofattachment. For example, upon determining the attachment levels, thetransceiver and/or the antennae may receive feedback to alter (e.g.,increase or decrease) the radiation level if the apparatus determinesthe attachment to a surface has changed. In some instances, theapparatus may be monitoring the attachment level continuously orintermittently.

In some embodiments, attachment levels to a surface being different thantheir appropriate levels may mean excessive and/or long-lasting pressureis being applied to the surface of the body. For example, pressure soresor ulcers may develop if a body surface is exposed to a prolonged and/orexcessive pressure, and the apparatus of the present disclosure may beused to monitor the pressure location and if needed provide alert asdiscussed above. In some embodiments, a compressible substance may beplaced between the body surface and the apparatus, and RF signalreflections from the surface may be used in determining the level of thepressure (based on the attachment level, for example). In someembodiments, there may not be a compressible substance in between thesurface and the apparatus, and reflections from layers below the surfacemay be used in determining attachment level and hence the pressure.

With reference to FIG. 1, in some embodiments, a picture of an exampleRF bistatic system (two antennas) for sensing attachment to a surface isshown. In some instances, one antenna, e.g., 101, operates astransmission antenna and the second one, e.g., 102, as receivingantenna. The antennae shown can be printed on printed circuit boards(PCBs), using a minimal form factor of bow-tie design, allowing widebandtransmission and allowing for a wide range of dielectric constantmaterial in the near field.

With reference to FIG. 2, in some embodiments, an example transmissionloss (S21 parameter) comparison between embodiments when the antenna isattached to a surface 201, and when it is not attached 202, is shown. Itcan be seen that S21 parameters are significantly different whencomparing the two states (attached to the surface 201, and not attached202). In the example shown, the antenna elements were first placedagainst human skin and then slightly shifted away from it. Consequently,overall transmission gain has dropped by 3-5 dB over the entire testedspectrum. The opposite result can also be achieved if, for example, anantenna designed to be matched to air is placed against a materialdifferent from air. In that case once the antenna is distanced from thematerial, transmission gain can increase significantly.

With reference to FIG. 3, in some embodiments, a schematic block diagramcomprising functional components of an apparatus for processing signalsto determine attachment level of the apparatus to a surface is shown.The apparatus comprises a processing circuitry including an antennadriver 301 and a processor 302. The antenna driver 301 drives one ormore antennae 303 to emit RF waves onto the surface the apparatus isattached to. In some instances, the processor 302 processes signals thatare output by the antennae 303 in response to waves reflected from thesurface. The power source 304 supplies operating power to all thecomponents of the apparatus, including to a communications module 305used to relay data between the apparatus and an external device (e.g.,computer). In some embodiments, electrodes 306 may be used to receiveECG signals from the body surface the apparatus is attached thereto.Further, additional sensors 307 such as accelerometers may beincorporated into the disclosed apparatus.

While various inventive embodiments have been described and illustratedherein, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily envision avariety of other means and/or structures for performing the functionand/or obtaining the results and/or one or more of the advantagesdescribed herein, and each of such variations and/or modifications isdeemed to be within the scope of the inventive embodiments describedherein. More generally, those skilled in the art will readily appreciatethat all parameters, dimensions, materials, and configurations describedherein are meant to be an example and that the actual parameters,dimensions, materials, and/or configurations will depend upon thespecific application or applications for which the inventive teachingsis/are used. Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able toascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalentsto the specific inventive embodiments described herein. It is,therefore, to be understood that the foregoing embodiments are presentedby way of example only and that, within the scope of the appended claimsand equivalents thereto, inventive embodiments may be practicedotherwise than as specifically described and claimed. Inventiveembodiments of the present disclosure are directed to each individualfeature, system, article, material, kit, and/or method described herein.In addition, any combination of two or more such features, systems,articles, materials, kits, and/or methods, if such features, systems,articles, materials, kits, and/or methods are not mutually inconsistent,is included within the inventive scope of the present disclosure.Embodiments disclosed herein may also be combined with one or morefeatures, as well as complete systems, devices and/or methods, to yieldyet other embodiments and inventions. Moreover, some embodiments, may bedistinguishable from the prior art by specifically lacking one and/oranother feature disclosed in the particular prior art reference(s);i.e., claims to some embodiments may be distinguishable from the priorart by including one or more negative limitations.

Also, various inventive concepts may be embodied as one or more methods,of which an example has been provided. The acts performed as part of themethod may be ordered in any suitable way. Accordingly, embodiments maybe constructed in which acts are performed in an order different thanillustrated, which may include performing some acts simultaneously, eventhough shown as sequential acts in illustrative embodiments.

Any and all references to publications or other documents, including butnot limited to, patents, patent applications, articles, webpages, books,etc., presented anywhere in the present application, are hereinincorporated by reference in their entirety. Moreover, all definitions,as defined and used herein, should be understood to control overdictionary definitions, definitions in documents incorporated byreference, and/or ordinary meanings of the defined terms.

The indefinite articles “a” and “an,” as used herein in thespecification and in the claims, unless clearly indicated to thecontrary, should be understood to mean “at least one.”

The phrase “and/or,” as used herein in the specification and in theclaims, should be understood to mean “either or both” of the elements soconjoined, i.e., elements that are conjunctively present in some casesand disjunctively present in other cases. Multiple elements listed with“and/or” should be construed in the same fashion, i.e., “one or more” ofthe elements so conjoined. Other elements may optionally be presentother than the elements specifically identified by the “and/or” clause,whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified.Thus, as a non-limiting example, a reference to “A and/or B”, when usedin conjunction with open-ended language such as “comprising” can refer,in one embodiment, to A only (optionally including elements other thanB); in another embodiment, to B only (optionally including elementsother than A); in yet another embodiment, to both A and B (optionallyincluding other elements); etc.

As used herein in the specification and in the claims, “or” should beunderstood to have the same meaning as “and/or” as defined above. Forexample, when separating items in a list, “or” or “and/or” shall beinterpreted as being inclusive, i.e., the inclusion of at least one, butalso including more than one, of a number or list of elements, and,optionally, additional unlisted items. Only terms clearly indicated tothe contrary, such as “only one of” or “exactly one of” or, when used inthe claims, “consisting of,” will refer to the inclusion of exactly oneelement of a number or list of elements. In general, the term “or” asused herein shall only be interpreted as indicating exclusivealternatives (i.e. “one or the other but not both”) when preceded byterms of exclusivity, such as “either,” “one of” “only one of” or“exactly one of” “Consisting essentially of,” when used in the claims,shall have its ordinary meaning as used in the field of patent law.

As used herein in the specification and in the claims, the phrase “atleast one,” in reference to a list of one or more elements, should beunderstood to mean at least one element selected from any one or more ofthe elements in the list of elements, but not necessarily including atleast one of each and every element specifically listed within the listof elements and not excluding any combinations of elements in the listof elements. This definition also allows that elements may optionally bepresent other than the elements specifically identified within the listof elements to which the phrase “at least one” refers, whether relatedor unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as anon-limiting example, “at least one of A and B” (or, equivalently, “atleast one of A or B,” or, equivalently “at least one of A and/or B”) canrefer, in one embodiment, to at least one, optionally including morethan one, A, with no B present (and optionally including elements otherthan B); in another embodiment, to at least one, optionally includingmore than one, B, with no A present (and optionally including elementsother than A); in yet another embodiment, to at least one, optionallyincluding more than one, A, and at least one, optionally including morethan one, B (and optionally including other elements); etc.

In the claims, as well as in the specification above, all transitionalphrases such as “comprising,” “including,” “carrying,” “having,”“containing,” “involving,” “holding,” “composed of,” and the like are tobe understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limitedto. Only the transitional phrases “consisting of” and “consistingessentially of” shall be closed or semi-closed transitional phrases,respectively, as set forth in the United States Patent Office Manual ofPatent Examining Procedures, Section 2111.03.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus comprising: a transceiver configuredto generate and/or receive radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic signals;one or more antennae configured for removable placement at a location onor immediately adjacent the skin of a human body and configured to:radiate the generated RF electromagnetic signals towards an outersurface of the human body and through the skin of the human body, outputsignals corresponding to received reflections of the RF electromagneticsignals; and a processing circuitry configured to process the receivedreflections and/or the output signals so as to: detect a nominal signalupon the apparatus being attached to a surface of the human body,determine values corresponding to one or more parameters of the receivedreflections and/or the output signals, compare the determined valueswith the nominal value, and based on the comparison, determining atleast one of a state of attachment of the apparatus on the surface ofthe human body; whether the apparatus is moving with respect to thesurface of the human body, and whether the apparatus is directlyattached to the surface of the human body.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the nominal signal and at least one of the parameters comprisean amplitude of a respective reflected signal.
 3. The apparatus of claim2, wherein: the nominal amplitude comprises a nominal amplitude setcorresponding to a plurality of nominal amplitudes signals, andcomparing comprises determining the sum of the absolute value of thedifference of the amplitude of a reflected signal per frequency from thenominal amplitude set.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a waveformof the RF electromagnetic signals is continuous and/or based onstep-frequency.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the RFelectromagnetic signals range in frequency from about 300 MHz to about300 GHz.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more antennaecomprise one or more of a monostatic antenna element, a bistatic antennaelement, and a polystatic antenna element.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the one or more antennae comprise a flexible plane configured toconform to the outer surface, wherein the flexible plane includes aprinted circuit board.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprisingan electrocardiogram (ECG) electrode configured to be attached to orcontact the surface of the human body.
 9. The apparatus of claim 8,wherein the ECG electrode produces ECG signals, and wherein the ECGsignals are used to determine attachment level of the apparatus to thesurface of the human body.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1, furthercomprising therapy electrodes, and wherein the therapy electrodes areconfigured to provide electrical current to the human body.
 11. Theapparatus of claim 1, further comprising a wireless communication unitconfigured to wirelessly communicate with an external module.
 12. Theapparatus of claim 1, further comprising an alarm unit configured toprovide a warning when the determination of the change in position ofthe apparatus with respect to the surface indicates attachment of theapparatus to the surface is below a predetermined attachment levelthreshold.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising anelectrocardiogram (ECG) electrode configured to be attached to orcontact the surface of the human body.
 14. The apparatus of claim 13,further comprising therapy electrodes, and wherein the therapyelectrodes are configured to provide electrical current to the humanbody.
 15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is connectedto a device for measuring physiological parameters, and furthercomprising a switch unit configured to activate or deactivate the devicebased on the determination of the change in position of the apparatuswith respect to the surface.
 16. The apparatus of claim 1, whereinwhether the apparatus is directly attached to the surface of the humanbody comprises at least one of whether the apparatus is in proximity tothe surface within a known separation distance and whether the apparatusis incorporated into a wearable garment or adhesive patch.
 17. A methodfor sensing attachment level of an apparatus with respect to a bodysurface to which the apparatus is attached to, comprising: generatingradio frequency (RF) electromagnetic signals; radiating the generated RFelectromagnetic signals towards an outer surfaced of the human body andthrough the skin of the human body via one or more antennae configuredfor removable placement at a location on or immediately adjacent theskin of a human or animal body; outputting signals corresponding toreceived reflections of the RF electromagnetic signals; processing thereceived reflections and/or the output signals so as to: detect anominal signal upon the apparatus being attached to a surface of thehuman body, determine values corresponding to one or more parameters ofthe received reflections and/or the output signals, and compare thedetermined values with the nominal value, and based on the comparison,determining at least one of: a state of attachment of the apparatus onthe surface of the human body; whether the apparatus is moving withrespect to the surface of the human body, and whether the apparatus isdirectly attached to the surface of the human body.
 18. The method ofclaim 17, wherein whether the apparatus is directly attached to thesurface of the human body comprises at least one of whether theapparatus is in proximity to the surface within a known separationdistance and whether the apparatus is incorporated into a wearablegarment or adhesive patch.